Encarsia Description

Encarsia Life Cycle

An adult female will lay up to 60 eggs during her short lifetime of 10 to 14 days. Whitefly scales that have been parasitised by Encarsia turn black after about 10 days. Development from egg to adult takes about 28 days at 20°C or 14 days at 30°C.

Encarsia Usage

Encarsia should only be used in greenhouses or conservatories.

Encarsia should be introduced at the first sign of whitefly, yellow sticky traps can be used to monitor when this is.

If temperatures are not high enough, use SB Plant Invigorator to keep the numbers down before Encarsia can be introduced.

If the whitefly population is already high, it is necessary to spray first with SB Plant Invigorator to reduce the numbers. It may also be necessary to repeat SB Plant Invigorator sprays after Encarsia are introduced, to help establish control at low whitefly levels. In this case, apply SB Plant Invigorator only to leaves that are densely infested with scales or adults. Generally, scales will be found on slightly older leaves and adults on young leaves towards the growing point of shoots. Spray undersides of leaves, where most of the whitefly are located.

Encarsia cannot be stored, and should be used on the day of receipt.

Temperatures should not fall below 10°C (50°F) at night, Encarsia will be most effective when temperatures are at least 18°C (64°F) during the day.

Encarsia may not work well on daturas or regal pelargoniums.

Like all Defenders biological controls, Encarsia is harmless to children, pets and wildlife and will not become a pest in its own right.

Biological Whitefly Control Product Details

Defenders supply Encarsia as parasitised whitefly scales, these are supplied in tubes attached to hanging cards and simply hung amongst the plants. The programmed delivery is recommended to give control over the entire whitefly life cycle. The single treatment is properly used for additional top-ups.

Eradicoat is supplied in bottles of concentrate.

Product

Area Treated

Code

Encarsia 750

Contains 750 Encarsia enough to treat up to 60m² (70yd²).

Enc01

A programme of 3 deliveries of 750 Encarsia sent at fornightly intervals.

Enc13

All packs of Encarsia are sent with full release instructions contained in the document wallet on the package.

Remember! Biological controls are living creatures and can be effected by chemical usage. If you've used any persistent pesticides recently, check with us before ordering Encarsia. As a general rule stop using pyrethrum 4 days before, derris 1-2 weeks before and soft soap insecticides 1 day before releasing Encarsia.